Governor Signs Inlet Study, Drilling Bills

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan this week signed into a law a handful of local impact bills including the state’s share for the proposed Inlet dredging study and protections against proposed offshore drilling. Senate Bill 1260, sponsored by Senator Jim Mathias, provides the state’s share of the cost of a proposed study conducted by the federal Army Corps of Engineers to begin determining a long-term solution to the chronic shoaling issues in the Inlet. Before any major investment in the Inlet is made, the Army Corps of Engineers wants to conduct a feasibility study to determine the most effective solution. (O.C. Md. News)

May 17 // With Baltimore votes up for grabs, Maryland gubernatorial candidate Baker issues plan for city

Democrat Rushern Baker on Wednesday became the first candidate in the crowded primary election for Maryland governor to pitch a detailed plan tailored to helping Baltimore, the state’s largest and most troubled city. The Prince George’s County executive released a seven-page proposal to help Baltimore reverse its chronic population loss, promote homeownership, lure more arts, science and film companies to the city and to revive the $3 billion Red Line transit project and State Center redevelopment canceled by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. (Balt. Sun)

It doesn’t get more pernicious in Prince George’s County than accusing a political candidate of “pay-to-play” politics. The phrase — describing government officials who make decisions based on who has given them money — was used during the Washington suburb’s darkest political days, when then-county executive Jack B. Johnson was hauled off in handcuffs on federal corruption charges. Now it is being levied by a super PAC backing county executive candidate Donna F. Edwards (D), in mailers, Facebook ads and other media attacks on her primary rival, Prince George’s state’s attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks (D). (Wash. Post)

Valerie Ervin faces Thursday deadline on decision to run for Maryland governor after death of running mate Kamenetz

Valerie Ervin is facing a deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday to decide whether she wants to run for governor in place of her deceased running mate, Kevin Kamenetz. Ervin had been running for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kamenetz, who died suddenly on May 10. Under Maryland law, Ervin has the option to run for governor herself and name a lieutenant governor running mate, or remain as a candidate for lieutenant governor with a new partner running for governor. (Balt. Sun)

State Insurance Commissioner and Republican candidate for Baltimore County executive Al Redmer Jr. is continuing to play up his endorsement from Gov. Larry Hogan, appearing with the governor in a new digital ad in advance of the June primary. The ad is brief and shows Hogan sitting next to Redmer, smiling. “Please vote for my friend Al Redmer for Baltimore County executive on June 26,” the governor says in the 10-second spot. The ad targets likely Republican voters, according to the Redmer campaign. It will appear on Facebook and on websites visited by targeted voters. (Balt. Sun)

Former Md. State Del. Will Campos sentenced in bribery scheme

A former Maryland state delegate and ex-Prince George’s County Council member was sentenced to four and a half years in prison Wednesday in a bribery case prosecutors said involved “the use of taxpayer money as if it were a literal slush fund.” William A. Campos, 43, of Hyattsville, pleaded guilty in January 2017 to accepting roughly $50,000 in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for official favors and help obtaining government money. Most of the bribery and conspiracy scheme involved Campos’s misusing more than $300,000 in county money, including grants intended to help nonprofit organizations, federal prosecutors said. Campos accepted personal payments between 2007 and 2014 from those who wanted access to the funds. (Wash. Post)

Bates calls out Vignarajah over 2015 video

Videos shot in 2015 by an organization called Project Veritas, shows an undercover member of their team meeting with and talking to then Deputy Attorney General Thiru Vignarajah. The woman in the video mentions feeling uncomfortable several times. Ivan Bates is one of the candidates running against Vignarajah for Baltimore City State's Attorney, here’s what he said about it. “The video totally shows a lack of judgment because Project Veritas was there to get whomever,” Bates said. (WMAR)

Md. high court adopts “mailbox rule” for prison inmates

Recognizing that inmates often lack email access, Maryland’s top court has ruled a prisoner’s petition for post-conviction relief is deemed filed for deadline-meeting purposes when submitted to the prison mailroom – not when the papers are received by the circuit court clerk. (Daily Record)